In the writing world, where I pull most of my experience, we're taught never ever ever to pay to enter a contest.

Are the rules really the same here, or are there possibly some legitimate contests with entry fees? How much is too much? I dont want to ever pay enter, but what about the rest of you?

To me, at least in writing, I'd only pay if the following conditions are met:

1. The contest wasn't being paid for by the entries, Ive seen a lot of writing contests that are $30 dollars to enter, winner takes 80% of the money taken in. That's not a a contest... it's a LOTTERY.
2. The contest, or the people behind it, are a large enough originziation to bring more attention to my work.